Reasons Why Reading Makes You More Creative
Why is reading books good for your brain?
For some reading might be a waste of time but actually, it has never been more useful to read books than in the past.
Nowadays, there has been an increasing tendency to live the fastest life possible. Additionally, the impact of social media has caused a shortage of free time for most people.
One of the studies investigated how reading affects our brain from two perspectives. The scientists concluded that this activity influences our brain plasticity and connectivity.
Both terms may overlap, however, there is a tiny difference. The definition of the first one says that it is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. Whereas the second one refers to all kinds of connection patterns between neurons located in a certain neural network.
There are several kinds of connectivity of neurons in the brain. The reorganization process that is one of the key features in brain plasticity works by modifying the connections involved in the network. It may give new perspectives, ideas, or thoughts that would have never appeared in our heads.
If we are focused enough while reading a novel, we often experience the state in which we began to imagine the world describe in the book. We lose contact with the real world. This process expands our imagination and sense perception. Those two features positively influence our creativity.
Furthermore, reading turns out to influence the volume of the brain. Because of establishing new connections, then more neurons are needed. Resultantly, white matter in the brain grows bigger. I am sure that most of us would like to possess a larger-sized brain.
Another study confirms the claim that reading positively influences creativity. The authors asked 196 university students to participate in the study by filling out a questionnaire and completing a creativity test. The questionnaire consisted of questions about the courses they take, total hours spent on reading, total hours on writing, and background information.
The results of the study were not surprising. Students with more reading time presented a better performance in the creativity test. However, surprisingly students who majored in English or Chinese performed better than mathematics or other scientifically related subjects. It seems illogical because very often mathematical solutions require creative approaches. It did not mean that mathematicians are less creative. It was due to less time spent on reading.
Lastly, one of the studies adds that reading may be enough to help us preserve our memory. The sole process of reading is complex. It involves the constant analysis of the observed text which is then cognitively understood. That mental activity acts as a preservative for our memory and maintains its sharpness.
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In conclusion, a little effort given to spent our time reading would definitely make us more creative and intellectually developed. This process is very enjoyable as it allows us to relieve stress and calm down a little bit.
